King and Maxwell (Sean King & Michelle Maxwell 6)

“Life doesn’t always work out the way you’d like. In fact, it almost never does. I wanted to pitch in the major leagues. Ended up being a human shield in a suit instead.”

She turned her head to look at him.

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“You know for what, Sean. You know.”

“Blame is a two-way street.”

“I wish it were so, but not in this case.”

He patted her hand.

“You’re way too good to me,” she said.

“You’re a good person.”

“I’ve changed, you mean,” she said, a weak smile crossing her lips.

“A good person,” Sean said softly.

Later he walked back down the hall and left the hospital. The day was crisp and clear. He couldn’t see a cloud in the sky, when for the last couple of weeks he couldn’t remember not seeing them up there.

He climbed into the Land Cruiser where Michelle was waiting.

She said, “How did it go?”

“As well as could be expected.”

She put the car in gear.

“You going to see her again?”

He glanced across at her. “I told her we’d rehab together. My hand, her body.”

“You think that’s wise?”

His brow creased. “Why wouldn’t it be? She has nobody right now. She shouldn’t be alone.”

“Don’t you think you might be giving her false hope?”

“False hope of what?”

“Of you two getting back together.”

“Michelle, that is not going to happen.”

“Does she know that?”

“Well, if you mean did I tell her there is no chance in hell we were reconciling, no I didn’t. I thought the timing might be bad what with her husband just being blown up,” he added in a harsh tone.

Michelle drove out of the parking lot. “Just saying is all. You might be setting her up for a greater hurt down the road.”

“Is this female-speak that I’m somehow not understanding?”

“I thought it was pretty clear, actually.”